Moron Dynasties

I'd like to write more about the issue of political dynasties.

 

"The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law." (Article 2, Section 26)

 

There are two things to look at. One is that political dynasties should be prohibited and the other, that equal access to opportunities for public service, be guaranteed. That guarantee is the aim of the prohibition.

 

In Fr. Bernas' commentary on the constitution, he explained that the subject of the article was a matter of serious debate. Commissioner Sarmiento, he recounts, rationalized the inclusion of the article as a means to widen the inclusion of competent, young and promising poor candidates to occupy positions in government. Though there were officials who ascended  into power despite "accident of birth", such cases were the exception and not the rule. The situation, Sarmiento lamented, was that many officials came from powerful clans with vast fortunes.

 

So the premise here, is that there are all these wonderful, perfectly capable and fine leaders who can't get elected because they can't compete with the lucky few who managed to crawl out of the right vagina. I believe that although this premise is easy to accept, it only just scratches the surface of a deeper problem.

 

The problem isn't just who we elect as leaders but who we are allowed to elect as leaders. I struggle to find ways to explain this but think of it this way; Imagine society divided by two. On the one hand are the regular Juans or the "masses" and on the other hand are the few rich families or elites.

 

Election day is coming and we need to field candidates. The elite of course, have all the money and means at their disposal and send out their sons, daughters and the endorsed cronies who ride on the coattails of the family names. This isn't a crime per se. People have a right to run for office after all. Now, what of the other half? Where are the leaders who rise from humble origins? Where are these mythical "competent, young and promising poor candidates"? Nowhere.

 

You may be thinking that, "Of course, we can't see them because they get steamrolled by the elite candidates who have more money and name recognition." But who's fault is that? Frankly, if all it takes to win an election is money and connections then its a damn embarrassment and its no damn surprise then that only those WITH money and connections can win.

 

What I'm trying to say is that elections should be more than just money and name recognition. It should be about ideas, about issues. But no, the other half composed of the starstruck masses can only respond to showbiz bullcrap and cash handouts. The "competent, young and promising poor candidates" don't exist not because the rich muscled them out but they don't exist because people don't want them. We don't respond to them because they're poor nobodies. We don't support them. We kill them.

 

Political dynasties only appear to be the problem but they aren't. The problem is that the path to power requires only those two things. Political dynasties only figure in because wealth and educational upbringing tend to be inherited. Rich families tend to breed rich and "smart" people. Even connections are inherited. A Mayor's or Governor's son can get a head start in knowing who's who very easily. They have an even bigger advantage this way and yet, people, critics of dynasties, see the advantages the elite enjoys as the problem instead of how these advantages hold such sway over the people.

 

Money and influence are a big advantage but when it's the only thing that's a factor in determining victory, then that's a problem. If only our civil society were as intelligent and mature as required by a democracy, political dynasties wouldn't be such a big deal. Imagine if people cared about ideas more than money. Imagine if competence and dedication were what people looked for in a leader instead of a familiar surname. Imagine if people wanted vision and leadership instead of platitudes are influence peddling. Now stop imagining and go back to reality. The elites, the dynasties, continue to have their way because we allow them to. Only they can produce the leaders we want but not the leaders we need. We need to change our standards. It's sad how winning elections requires so much yet demands so little.

 

The problem is us as usual.